Volocopter’s CEO Dirk Hoke is to step down at the beginning of next year.
The development of Volocopter’s short-range multi-copter urban eVTOL, which can carry up two people up to 35km (22 miles) is at a crucial point, with the company and market expecting its VoloCity aircraft to enter service next year.
The announcement follows the scaling back of plans to ferry athletes and officials around Paris during the Olympics this summer using VoloCity aircraft. After months of speculation, Volocopter ran several operational test flights during the event, blaming the delay on certification issues with the aircraft’s motors.
The VoloCity is yet to be certified for use by the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA).
Volocopter said that Hoke’s successor as CEO will be announced by the Advisory Board “in due course”.
Hoke said, ” I am firmly convinced that the setup we have achieved puts us in the best possible position for the successful commercialization of Volocopter. It has been a privilege to lead this great start-up with its impressive employees.
“Until the end of February 2025, I will devote all my energy to achieving EASA certification and thus creating an essential building block for the future of Volocopter.
Hoke was appointed CEO of Volocopter in September 2022.
Volocopter also announced changes to its advisory board, with the appointment of Dr Dieter Zetsche as the chairman with immediate effect.
“On behalf of the advisory board, I would like to thank Dirk Hoke for his strong commitment over the past two years. He took over Volocopter in a crucial phase and drove it forward, for which we would like to express our appreciation,” said Zetsche.
Dieter Zetsche is a former CEO of automotive group Daimler. He said, “I am looking forward to helping shape the transformation of urban mobility alongside Volocopter and thus making a contribution to ensuring that Germany remains a leading mobility location in the 21st century.”
Dieter Zetsche succeeds Stefan Klocke as chairman. Klocke remains on Volocopter’s advisory board.
Dr Zhihao Xu, CEO of China’s Geely Technology Group, has also joined the board. “The mobility of the future will take place both on the road and in the air. Synergies are obvious, which is why I am delighted to be able to contribute my extensive experience to Volocopter,” said Xu.
Majid Mufti, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Investment Fund also remain a member of the Advisory Board.
